Abstract: Polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicating monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

Abstract: Polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicating monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

Abstract: Device comprising polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicator monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

Abstract: A device for sensing and/or detecting species or stimulus at a locus, preferably at a fluid or moist locus by means of fluid communication therewith, comprising a surface configured to contact the locus, wherein the surface comprises a polyurethane material which material comprises a polyurethane polymer network having a hydrophilic polymer immobilised therein wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises immobilised therein a ligand or moiety for detecting or sensing species or stimulus and an indicator for indicating detection or sensing prior to contact with the locus and change in indication as a function of species or stimulus present at the locus wherein species or stimulus are selected from chemical and biological species or stimulus; the use thereof preferably for detecting and/or sensing or binding bacteria, or for detecting or sensing pH or for detection or scanning with use of a reader; and a Kit.

Abstract: A polyurethane material for the detection or sensing of species or stimulus comprising a polyurethane network comprising immobilized therein, or modified by the immobilization therein of, a hydrophilic polymer comprising a ligand or moiety for the detection or sensing of species or stimulus and an indicator for indicating detection or sensing wherein species or stimulus is selected from chemical or biological species or stimulus; the material for medical, dental, hygiene, point of use sterilization, sanitation, personal care, biosurveillance or packaging use, the use thereof preferably for detecting and/or sensing or binding bacteria, or for detecting or sensing pH or for detection or scanning with use of a reader; a Kit and a device comprising the same; and a process for the preparation thereof.

Abstract: Polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicating monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

Abstract: Device comprising polyurethane material for indicating pH at a locus, preferably as indication of presence of microbes, comprising a polyurethane network having immobilised therein one or more hydrophilic copolymers, the or each said copolymer comprising: hydrophilic monomer; and indicator monomer, which provides an indication in response to a change in hydrophilic state of said hydrophilic monomer and/or copolymer; characterised in that the or each copolymer further comprises one or a plurality of ionisable groups or moieties or polymerisable monomers having one or more characteristic pKa values in the range 5 to 10 and which are responsive to pH at the locus in the range pH 5 to pH 10 and in that hydrophilic state of hydrophilic copolymer is dependent on ionisation of said ionisable groups, moieties or monomers; kit and device comprising the material and process for preparation thereof; and use in detecting or sensing microbes or pH.

Abstract: A device for sensing and/or detecting species or stimulus at a locus, preferably at a fluid or moist locus by means of fluid communication therewith, comprising a surface configured to contact the locus, wherein the surface comprises a polyurethane material which material comprises a polyurethane polymer network having a hydrophilic polymer immobilised therein wherein the hydrophilic polymer comprises immobilised therein a ligand or moiety for detecting or sensing species or stimulus and an indicator for indicating detection or sensing prior to contact with the locus and change in indication as a function of species or stimulus present at the locus wherein species or stimulus are selected from chemical and biological species or stimulus; the use thereof preferably for detecting and/or sensing or binding bacteria, or for detecting or sensing pH or for detection or scanning with use of a reader; and a Kit.

Abstract: A polyurethane material for the detection or sensing of species or stimulus comprising a polyurethane network comprising immobilised therein, or modified by the immobilisation therein of, a hydrophilic polymer comprising a ligand or moiety for the detection or sensing of species or stimulus and an indicator for indicating detection or sensing wherein species or stimulus is selected from chemical or biological species or stimulus; the material for medical, dental, hygiene, point of use sterilisation, sanitation, personal care, biosurveillance or packaging use, the use thereof preferably for detecting and/or sensing or binding bacteria, or for detecting or sensing pH or for detection or scanning with use of a reader; a Kit and a device comprising the same; and a process for the preparation thereof

Abstract: The invention provides wound dressings comprising an absorbent (porous) hydrogel composition comprising a foam portion which comprises a flexible plasticized hydrophilic polymer matrix having an internal cellular structure, and a continuous portion which comprises a flexible plasticized hydrophilic polymer matrix having relatively continuous internal structure. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition includes apertures providing fluid flow communication through the continuous portion between an external surface of the continuous portion and the foam portion whereby the foam portion can take up external water or other fluid into the cellular structure through the apertures of the continuous portion. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition may be tacky to the skin, allowing its use as a bioadhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming images in pie tops. The apparatus provides a frame, a cylindrical die having an image surface, a cover, a counter surface and a pie top conveyor. The die is rotatably attached to the frame and may be removed to change to other dies having different image surfaces. The counter surface provides resistance to the point of formation in the pie top. The pie top conveyor transports a continuous or non-continuous top sheet of pie dough between the die and the counter surface. The conveyor and die are made with substantially non-compressible and non-stick surfaces. After an image is formed in the top sheet of pie dough, the sheet is transported from the exit of the die to a corresponding pie bottom located on a lower conveyor and then to an oven for baking.

Abstract: The invention provides wound dressings comprising an absorbent (porous) hydrogel composition comprising a foam portion which comprises a flexible plasticised hydrophilic polymer matrix having an internal cellular structure, and a continuous portion which comprises a flexible plasticised hydrophilic polymer matrix having relatively continuous internal structure. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition includes apertures providing fluid flow communication through the continuous portion between an external surface of the continuous portion and the foam portion whereby the foam portion can take up external water or other fluid into the cellular structure through the apertures of the continuous portion. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition may be tacky to the skin, allowing its use as a bioadhesive.

Abstract: A cross-linked plasticised polymeric hydrogel suitable for use in mammalian body tissue (e.g. skin) contacting applications, which comprises a cross-linked copolymer formed from a first monomer comprising one or more pendant anionic group and a second monomer comprising one or more pendant cationic group, the relative amounts of the said monomers in the copolymer being such that the anionic groups and cationic groups are present in essentially equimolar quantities.

Abstract: The invention provides an absorbent (porous) hydrogel composition comprising a foam portion which comprises a flexible plasticised hydrophilic polymer matrix having an internal cellular structure, and a continuous portion which comprises a flexible plasticised hydrophilic polymer matrix having a relatively continuous internal structure. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition includes apertures providing fluid flow communication through the continuous portion between an external surface of the continuous portion and the foam portion whereby the foam portion can take up external water or other fluid into the cellular structure through the apertures of the continuous portion. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition may be tacky to the skin, allowing its use as a bioadhesive. The porous hydrogel has wide applicability, e.g. in wound or burn dressings, biomedical electrodes, etc., as an absorbent and/or adhesive component.

Abstract: The invention provides absorbent hydrogel compositions and hydrogel-containing structures. Typically, a first portion of the novel materials comprises a porous flexible plasticised hydrophilic polymer matrix having an internal cellular structure, and a second portion is relatively non-porous, e.g. comprises a flexible plasticised hydrophilic polymer matrix having relatively continuous internal structure. Methods for the manufacture or such hydrogels and structures are provided, as well as uses thereof.